Rhodesia

Rhodesia was an unrecognized state in Africa that existed from 11 November 1965 to 1 June 1979, with Salisbury serving as its capital. The country was formed when Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom, with the white elite doing so with the goal of preventing the transition to black majority rule. In 1970, Rhodesia reconstituted itself as a republic, abandoning its hopes of joining the Commonwealth. Rhodesian premier Ian Smith implemented white minority rule, leading to the Rhodesian Bush War with the socialist ZANU and ZAPU rebel groups. In 1978, Smith was forced to concede to multiracial democracy, and Smith and his moderate colleague Abel Muzorewa headed the interim government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia during the second half of 1979. The guerrilla war continued, however, and the country reverted to British colonial rule for three months before being recognized as independent "Zimbabwe".